Page:The Novels and Tales of Henry James, Volume 2 (New York, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1907).djvu/258

THE AMERICAN was adorned with a topaz set in a velvet band. The young Marquise, when he came in, left some people among whom she was sitting and took the place she had occupied before dinner. Then she gave a little push to the puff that stood near her and seemed to indicate by a glance that she had placed it in position for him. He went and took possession of it; the young Marquise amused and puzzled him.

"I know your secret," she said in her bad but charming English; "you need make no mystery of it. You wish to marry my sister-in law. C'est un beau choix. A man like you ought in effect to marry a very tall and very thin woman. You must know that I've spoken in your favour, I'm really on your side and in your interest. You owe me a famous taper!"

"You've spoken well of me to Madame de Cintré?" Newman asked.

"Oh no, not that. You may think it strange, but my sister-in-law and I are not so intimate as that. Taking my courage in my hands, I put in my word for you to my husband and to my mother-in-law. I said I was sure we could do what we choose with you."

"I'm much obliged to you," laughed Newman, "but I guess you'll find you can't."

"I know that very well; I did n't believe a word of it. But I wanted you to come into the house; I thought we should be friends."

"I'm very sure of it," said Newman.

"Don't be too sure. If you like the Comtesse so much perhaps you won't like me. We're as different—well, as this fan and that poker. But you and 228